A Soup to Warm the Soul

A simple soup base, our Whole Grains and Bean Soup is still on sale through Dec. 31st.

The Christmas holiday often feels like a sugar rush to me; it’s very exciting while it’s happening, but after the fact I feel drained and tired. The Portland weather has been keen to remind us that it’s winter and we’ve had one gray soggy day followed by another. When the weather gets like this, a hearty pot of soup is top of mind for dinner.

When we began developing our two new soup mixes, this soup was one of my favorites. It has a lovely spiciness to it and is thoroughly warming. There are two options here- one with chicken and one without. Both are delicious and easy-to-prepare.

Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat; add half the chicken pieces and brown on all sides for about 6 minutes. Continue with the remaining chicken pieces. Add onions and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for one more minute. Add garam masala and curry powder; sauce for 30 seconds to a minute until they are aromatic but not burning. Carefully pour in stock and scrape the bottom of the pan to release any brown bits. Add bay leaves. Add soup mix and stir. Bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Sir occasionally to prevent sticking. Add more stock or water if beans absorb too much liquid.